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         About one-third of the world’s commercial wood supply comes from planted forests. By applying new technologies, it is estimated that all of the world’s timber production could potentially be produced and harvested on an area roughly five to ten percent of the total forest today. This means that more of the earth’s forests could remain in their natural state, maintaining native habitats and conserving biodiversity. |
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 Tree biotechnology can result in unique and important gene combinations not achievable in traditional breeding techniques. These products are being carefully and extensively researched, a process that is strictly regulated and must comply with government standards and requirements. ArborGen is currently developing hardwood species for the commercial U.S. market.   ArborGen has demonstrated improved frost resistance in hardwoods like eucalyptus. This will enable this high quality wood fiber tree to survive in colder climatic conditions experienced in the Southeastern U.S. We have also demonstrated the ability to produce trees with a reduced lignin content to improve pulping efficiency and paper production, leading to significant reductions in the chemicals and energy needed for pulping. ArborGen is advancing ways to improve both the growth rate and wood quality of commercially important trees. ArborGen’s goal is to develop a commercially grown hardwood that can grow at rotations of five to seven years or less. All these innovations lead the way to producing more of the world’s needed industrial wood on planted commercial forests, relieving the pressure to harvest from native forests. |
